Gill Holland is known for his work turning East Market Street into the lively NuLu neighborhood. But can he do the same for Louisville’s Portland neighborhood?

Holland said it is coming along, slowly but surely. He said the historic neighborhood is full of potential and points to new businesses in the area.

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“And we’re basically trying to find the worst building in each block to buy,” Holland said.

Holland’s vision for boarded-up homes and vacant warehouses in the Portland neighborhood is buy them cheap, fix them up and sell them.

On Wednesday, he pitched his 10-year plan to Venture Connections, a networking group for investors and entrepreneurs.

Holland helped revitalize Louisville’s NuLu neighborhood.

His latest project, the Portland investment initiative, focuses on the neighborhood north of Market Street and west of downtown.

He has bought 35 properties so far and his plan calls for $24 million in investments. That’s attracted newcomers like Joey Eaton, who bought a home on 32nd Street.

“I love the people, I love the history, I love the potential,” Eaton said.

Eaton was working in Quixote Coffee Shop, which opened a little more than one year ago. It’s next to an art gallery and down the street from a new restaurant.

Many residents, like Barbara Horton, support Holland’s efforts.

“Have nice homes, you know, build nice homes, be in a nice neighborhood. We don’t have to be around all these drugs and people, 'cause there’s a whole lot of them around here,” Horton said.

But others, like Leta Cottrell, are worried Holland’s plans will push longtime residents out of the neighborhood.

“Instead of him wanting to build restaurants and build different buildings, he should build some stuff to maybe help get all these teens off the street, too,” Cottrell said.

Holland said his renovated vacant homes will be sold to clients of affordable-housing programs. The first deal closes in two weeks.

“We are working with affordable-housing advocates. We are excited about all the people living in the area. We want people to stay in the area,” Holland said. “The reality is, there’s 1,400 vacant and abandoned properties, so we need to repopulate the area.”

Holland said there are a lot of other promising developments on the horizon. The city has a plan for a new park along Portland’s Riverfront. And they just closed on a historic building that will be home to nonprofits trying to help Portland residents.